Mechanical feeding apparatus



W. A. BLUM.

MECHANICAL FEEDING APPARATUS. I APPLICATION FlL ED JUNE i6, I921.

Patented Jan. 1 1922.

IINIVENTOR.

BY- l W; ,0)

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. BLUM, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB, T0 CYRUS B. NEW'COMB,

OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

MECHANICAL FEEDING- APPARATUS.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAAI A. BLUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of lslichigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Feeding Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to mechanical feeding apparatus, such as may be employed to feed fuel to furnaces and similar uses; and the object thereof is to provide improved means for separating in the material container the particles composing the mass of material to be fed.

This and any other objects hereinafter appearing are attained by and the invention finds preferable embodiment in, the structure hereinafter particularly described in the body of this specification and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a container for the material to be fed, showing means for separating the particles of such material therein, and means for feeding the material therefrom;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same taken on a vertical plane corresponding to line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of certain parts thereof taken on a plane corresponding to line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a modified construction of certain parts.

In the embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration by the drawings and for detailed description in the body of this specification, my apparatus is shown as applied to the feeding of fuel to a furnace, through suitable conduits 2; although my invention may be employed for feeding other material and for other purposes. The material to be fed, as the fuel in the present instance, is contained in a suitable container 3, having in its bottom a worm indicated at 4 for feeding the fuel therefrom into the conduit 2. The worm at may be rotated by any suitable means as the electric motor 6 having a gear 7 meshing with the gear 8 on the worms shaft. In order to separate the particles of material in the container and prevent the same from forming an arch or clogged condition therein, I provide reciprocating elements 9 sliding in bearings 10 and Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan, 17 1922,

Application filed June 18, 1921. Serial No. 478,194.

actuated by eccentrics 11 through connecting rods 12. These elements 9 carry helical members 13 inside the container and journalled on said elements to turn freely about their longitudinal axes when the elements 9 move in one direction (preferably upwardly), but to be held against such turnmg by a ratchet la and pawl 15 when the elements 9 move in the opposite direction (preferably downwardly). Thus the turning helical member passes freely through the mass of fuel in its longitudinal movement first mentioned, but beingheld against turning movement in its opposite longitudinal movement, it engages the material and separates the particles thereof. The eccentrics 11 are mounted on shafts 16 having gears 17 meshing With and driven by the gear 18 on the shaft of the worm 4. The reciprocating elements are shown as guided in their reciprocating movement in a vertical direction, but they may manifestly be arranged to reciprocate in any desired direction.

In Figure 4 a modified construction is shown. The element 9 bears and is guided in a guide member 10 pivotally mounted at 20 to swing in a plane transverse to the axis of the eccentric 11 or the elements 9 may pass through a fixed guide so loose as to permit such swinging movement. By this means the particles of the material are more completely disturbed and separated than by the reciprocation of theelement and helical member'carried thereby in a fixed direction.

The invention being intended to be pointed out in the claims, is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment or embodiments thereof illustrated by the drawings or hereinbefore described.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described; a container; a reciprocating element; a helical member in the container and journalled on said element; ratchet mechanism for holding said member against rotation in one direction and permitting its rotation in the opposite direction; means for reciprocating said element.

2. In apparatus of the character, described; a container; a conduit leading therefrom; means adjacent the bottom of the container for feeding the material therefrom through the conduit; a reciprocating on said element; ratchet mechanism for holding said member against rotation in one direction and permitting its rotation in the opposite direction; means for reciprocating and swinging said element.

In testimonx whereof I have hereunto set my hand at (Jrand Rapids, Michigan, this 26th day of May, 1921.

WILLIAM A. BLUM. 

